2nd International Puppetry Festival opens

The second International Puppetry Festival regarded as a rendezvous for local and international puppetry troupes opened at the Hanoi Opera House on September 4. The festival features 20 performances of foreign troupes from China, Malaysia, Egypt, Israel and Cuba together five troupes from Vietnam, including the Vietnam Puppetry Theater, the Thang Long Puppetry Theater and the puppetry troupes from Hai Phong city, Dak Lak province and Ho Chi Minh City. The festival organized by the Department of Performing Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, gives a chance for domestic artists to meet and exchange experience with their colleagues from foreign countries, and promote Vietnamese traditional puppetry. According to Mr. Vuong Duy Bien, deputy head of the Department of Performing Arts, this year’s performances are diversified in their themes, styles and subject matters. Local troupes attracted audience with interesting water puppetry performances which is considered as a strong point of the host country. The jury includes three international members and two Vietnamese ones. The awarding ceremony will be held in the evening of September 9.